Buckle.



- N0.s4v,os4. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

.w. H. GRIFFIN.

BUCKLE APPLICATION fILED JANJB, 1906.

RAM

illustrated by dotted lines.

STATES was PATENT OFFTQE.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed January 18, 1906. Serial No. 296,659.

To a whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at OX- ford, in the county of Calhoun and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to buckles particu larly adapted for use on harness.

The improved article has open sides for convenience in applying straps thereto and obstructing accidental disengagement of the straps and facilitating the application and release of the connected parts by dispensing with the usual form of loose folding'tongue and substituting for the latter a stud means carried by the body of the buckle.

The im roved article may be made in either sing e or double form for application to different parts of harness and to facilitate the formation of varying types of loops or use with back-straps and like harness arrangements.

The improved article is also of a strong and durable nature and, being simplified in its structure and preferably made of one piece of material, can be cheaply manufactured.

In some uses the article may be employed as a slide and, furthermore, may have at times closing means cooperating with the open sides. 2

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a double form of the article shown applied. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of the buckle shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank from Which the article shown by Figs. 1 and 2 is formed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a single form of the buckle, showing it applied. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the buckle shown by Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank from which the buckle shown by Figs. 4 and 5 is formed, the bent lines of the arms being Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the body portion of the buckles shown by Figs. 4, 5, and 6, having a closing device applied thereto. Fig. 8 is an edge elevation of the buckle-body and closing device shown by Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail erspective view of the form of buckle shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, illustrating closing means in connection therewith.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

In both the double and single forms of buckle the numeral 1 designates a flat body having one extremity apertured and bent or deflected, as at 2, for the attachment thereto of a strap terminal. At an intermediate point it is preferred that a stud 3 be secured to the body and projected therefrom. It will be understood, however, that the use of this stud'is not in all instances essential, especially when the buckle is to be employed as a slide, and in place of said stud any analogous structure well known in the art may be substituted. .In the form of buckle shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the opposite edges of the body are provided with arms 4, which are bent upwardly and over and downwardly and under the said body in reverse directions,

the body having two studs 3 and 3 projecting from opposite sides thereof between the arms. The arms (shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3) on reverse sides of the body extend over different portions of the latter, and each pair of arms, .as illustrated by the blank, is constructed by centrally slitting or cutting opposed lateral projections which are integral with the body, so as to facilitate the formation of said arms and properly position the latter with respect to the body. The free ends of the arms terminate substantially in alinement with the o posite side edges of the body, and in the simp ified form of the buckle the opposite sides of the body are left open, so that straps or portions of the latter may be inserted in place or released from the buckle by a certain manipulation which will be more fully hereinafter specified.

The blanks from which the double and single forms of the buckle are constructed are of bendable metal, so that the arms may be easily and readily disposed inoperative relation. The arms after being bent into proper form with respect to their bodies will,

however, be stifi enough to resist accidental bending and to withstand considerable strain without becoming misshaped.

In the form of buckle shown by Figs. 4, 5, and 6 the body 1 has two arms 5 integrally formed with opposite side edges thereof in advance and in rear of the stud 3, the said arms being bent upwardly over the body in reverse directions similar to the double form the buckle will be varied in accordance with the use and the dimensions of the strap.

Metal of suitable thickness will be used in the formation of the double and single buckle, and after the arms have been properly bent or projected over the body the buckle as an entirety may be finished by plating or other treatment.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a closing attachment is shown and particularly applicable to the form of the buckle shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In this instance the body of the buckle under each arm is formed with a groove 6, extending part way across the same and terminating at its inner extremity in a slot 7, having its inner end reversely inclined to form an angular ridge, as .at 8. At the edge of the body where the groove 6 asses out an arcuate concavity 9 is provide Rotatably held in the groove 6 is a closing-rod 10, having an inner angular looking-terminal 11 and an outer anular closing loop or extremity 12, which is located in the arcuate concavity 9. The closing-rod 10 is held in place in the groove by small cross-staples or analogous devices 13. When the closing loop or extremity 12 is disposed in a plane at right angles to the body 1 of the buckle, it extends across the opening between the free end 'of the arm and the said body and is held in this position by the inner locking-terminal 11 thereof frictionally engaging the one inclined side of the slot-7. When the closing loop or extremity 12 is turned in parallel relation to the body 1 of the buckle, the locking-terminal '11 is shifted across to the opposite inclined side of the slot 7, and the closing attachment in the latter position releases the opposite sides of the buckle, so that the strap may be inserted therein or withdrawn therefrom.

In placing a strap or portion of a strap in enga ing position with either form of the buckle shown it is turned at an angle to pass between the arms and engage the stud, it bemg understood that the strap will have suitab e apertures therein to receive the stud. When this engagement with the stud has ensued, the strap will then be turned into longitudinal position or in a plane parallel with the body of the buckle and held between the arms and the said body. In releasing the strap the movement thereof is reversed or until it is clear of the arms, and the edges thereof may be readily drawn up between the inner opposing edges of the arms.

As before noted, it is proposed to use either improved form of buckle with any part of harness to which it may be applicable, and the ease and facility with which the attachment and disconnection of the strap or portion of the strap may be made with respect thereto renders the buckle in either of its farms a valuable acquisition to theQart to which it pertains.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. A buckle having a flat body with arms projecting thereover in reverse directions from opposite sides and located inwardly from opposite ends of the body, and a fastening means between the arms, the arms nor-. mally projecting from the opposite side edges of the body and bent over and parallel to the latter and having their free extremities separated from and in parallel relation to the side edges of the body opposite those from which they project.

2. A buckle of the class set forth, having a flat body with s aced arms projected thereover in reverse irections, the arms being integrally formed with the opposite side edges of the body and projected over the latter in parallel planes and located inwardly from opposite ends of the body and having their free extremities at a distance from and parallel with the side edges of the body opposite the edges from which the said arms project to form open sides to the buckle.

3. A buckle comprising a flat body with integrally-formed arms projected from the opposite side edges thereof over the body in reverse directions at a distance from the latter to form open sides for the buckle, the arms being parallel to the body and located inwardly from opposite ends of the said body, the said arms having their free ends parallel to and in alinement with the side edges of the body opposite the side edges from which they project, and a fastening device projecting from the intermediate portion of the body between opposing side edges of the arms.

4. A buckle having a fiat body with airs of arms extending thereover in reverse irections from opposite side edges and also over the opposite at sides of the body, the portions of the arms connecting with the body being closely arranged, thefree ends of the arms bein parallel to and in alinement with the side e ges of the body opposite the side edges of the latter from which they project, and a fastening device projecting from the body at a distance from opposing side edges of pairs of the arms. I

5. A buckle having a flat body with pairs of arms extending from opposite side edges thereof, the arms being formed by dividing laterally-projecting portions at opposite side edges of the body, to provide contiguous pairs of arms which are bent in reverse directions over opposite sides of the plate, the free extremities of the arms terminating in alinement with the side edges of the body oppo site the side edges of the latter from which they project.

6. A buckle having a body with arms extending thereover in reverse directions and forming open sides to the buckle, and closing means movably connected to the bucklebody and cooperating with the free extrem- 1o ity of the arms to close the buckle sides.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM H. GRIFFIN. Witnesses:

JAMES R. DRAPER, W. D. SMYTH. 

